Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Happy Holidays & Hot Chocolate


Wishing all a magickal, peaceful, joyous holiday! May your new year be filled with much love, joy, blessings and miracles!
I would like to post a note that someone shared with me some time ago. I am not sure whom to credit for this truthful and inspiring story but thank you.

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate that God has provided us. Our Divine Creator makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate!



Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Blessed Thanksgiving and Native American prayer


I wish all of you a joyful, peaceful and safeThanksgiving Holiday. Remember how much all of us have to be grateful for. If you are ever feel your faith wavering, your spirit broken, write a gratitude list- of everything, everyone you feel grateful for in your life. Doing this will lift your spirit and open your heart. Gratitude is also the key to manifesting your heart’s desires. The more you feel grateful, the more you allow in all the miracles of the Universe. The Universe fully opens its arms and you deserve all that is good!


Remember to also give thanks to the animals, who nobly sacrifice themselves for us, to feed us, especially during the holiday season. So often we forget what they endure on this planet. Even though they are happy to be food for us, they do not like to be mistreated. Ask for Spirit, The Divine Creator, The Angels or Deity of your choosing to bless your food as well as the spirit of the animals.

A friend of mine shared this lovely Native American Thanksgiving Prayer and I want to share it with all of you as well. Thank you Linda Living Joy.

~Cosmic Blessings, Love & Light to you and yours~

Thanksgiving

We return thanks to our mother, the Earth,
which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams,
which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs,
which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars,
which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun,
that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit,
in Whom is embodied all goodness,
and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.

~ Iroquois ~



Friday, November 20, 2009

Please help and adopt Kenosha Greyhounds!


Angelic Blessings everyone,

I received this news today and want to get it out there to as many people as possible. Please pray for our canine friends and pass this on! ~Thank you ~


The Dairyland Greyhound Race Track in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing December 31, 2009.

Up to 600 greyhounds need to be adopted! Please help me get the word out. There are only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Dairyland Race Track Adoption Center direct at (262) 612-8256 (262) 612-8256. Please see the web link below... Greyhounds are known to be sweet and wonderful dogs, very family oriented! Thank you





Saturday, November 7, 2009

Raw Apple Pie Recipe from the Raw For Life video


Blessings everyone~ For months I have been transitioning to a raw foods diet. (With more info about that on the way...) Came across this recipe about a month ago and found it delightful! So here you go! There is also a YouTube video link at the end if you want to check it out. Have fun!

Raw Apple Pie from Raw For Life DVD/video
This recipe is fantastic with bursts of flavor! The pie holds up surprisingly well. I thought the video production could have been done better though. I found some of it vague (with measurements) and watched it multiple times. But I can be a perfectionist when it comes to cooking-lol. Well technically, “uncooking” with this! So I tweaked the recipe a bit. I recommend reading through this list first to see what you need, then the rest. It may seem long but I wrote it out in order of what you need to soak first, then process & assemble.

For the apple pie filling, personally I did not like the texture of the soaked walnuts. I think there are several options: you could omit them-OR- one could use chopped raw walnuts instead –OR- soak them but then later, puree them in addition. The chef Dorit stressed the importance of soaking the walnuts for 48 hours, but I do not feel it’s necessary. 12 hours is good enough!

Allow yourself plenty of time to make this, since there is some definite prep work and soaking time, plus cleaning up in between..;)

For the crust, if you do not want to use almonds, you could use raw pecans or walnuts. And if you don’t have enough dates, for just the crust, you could use raisins instead. (unsoaked)

The almond cream top is not necessary but does make a nice addition. Have fun!

Special equipment: Food processor or high powered blender

Plenty of glass or ceramic bowls

Grater for lemon & orange zest

Deep pie dish

Dehydrator if you have one but it is not necessary!

The recipe, what you will need

Crust:

1 ¼ cups raw almonds, soaked overnight for about 8- 12 hours; then rinsed (once soaked, they become about 2 Cups)

1 cup pitted dates

1 tsp. Orange zest

¼ cup dried unsweetened coconut (optional- I added this for more texture)

Flaxseed oil –or- Coconut, Olive or Canola oil for brushing the bottom of the pie pan

Filling:

3-4 Peeled & Chopped Apples

3-4 Peeled & Shredded Apples (we sliced them thin in the food processor instead)

Organic Apple Juice for soaking the apples

Lemon juice (fresh is best but not necessary)

1 cup soaked dates (in water) for about an hour or two

1 cup chopped walnuts, soaked for 12-48 hrs, then rinsed *see note above*

1 cup unsulfured raisins (no sulfur dioxide or other preservatives in them)

1 tsp. lemon zest

Approx 1 tsp. cinnamon -and-

1/4 tsp. nutmeg to taste

Almond Cream Top:

1 cup of almonds, soaked & then skins peeled- To do this faster, you can blanch the almonds by boiling some water, then dipping the almonds in for a few seconds in a steamer or strainer until the skins start to come off. Some may still need some help with removing the skins

½ tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups dates soaked in organic apple juice for an hour or two before you assemble the pie, juice reserved (I actually ran out of dates & ended up using 1 cup instead & it worked out fine)

What to soak: (all in purified water unless otherwise noted)

Overnight- for 12 hours:

1 ¼ cup of almonds (for the crust) plus 1 cup almonds for the cream top

1 cup of walnuts (if desired)

An hour or two prior to assembling the pie:

1 cup of dates

1-2 cups of dates in Organic Apple Juice

1 cup of raisins

½ your apples in Organic Apple Juice, the other half tossed in enough lemon juice to coat them

Directions

For the crust: Brush your pie dish lightly with the oil of your choice. Add all the ingredients in the food processor and process until well combined. (It will look similar to a mealy flour) Add all to the pie dish and press it down evenly to make a crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours to set. (Instead, what I did was put the whole dish in the dehydrator for about 2 hours but you don’t need to..)

For the apple filling: After chopping/slicing the apples, divide them into two groups and put them into two bowls. Soak one group of apples in Organic Apple Juice about an hour or two before you make the pie- just enough to cover them. The other group of apples- toss in lemon juice; use enough to coat them well. I think I used maybe ~3Tbsp

Later, after about 2 hrs and all is soaked, combine all your ingredients in a large bowl except the dates (and walnuts if you choose to use them, you can puree them with the dates) Mix all the ingredients together with your hands. Then process the soaked dates (and walnuts if desired) until it’s a puree; add that to the apple mixture and mix with hands again or stir.

Add the filling on top of the pie crust and pack it in with your hands. Send love into your food J

For the almond cream top: After peeling the skins from the cup of almonds, add the soaked dates & vanilla to your food processor or blender and process until very smooth. You can add the reserved apple juice gradually as you need it to thin the mixture out.

Spread this mixture evenly on the top of the pie like you would frosting. Garnish with sliced apples or edible flowers, if desired. Slice slowly and carefully to serve & enjoy!

For storage, you can put it in the refrigerator or freezer. For freezing, add some toothpicks into the pie, then cover with aluminum foil so it won’t be entirely touching the cream top. It tastes just as yummy frozen!

Monday, October 12, 2009


Animal Messenger~Vulture~

Today I asked for a Divine animal messenger to come forward. Here is some information about the vulture.

Vulture represents: Purification, Death & Rebirth, New Vision
Vulture is one of the most misunderstood birds, and yet it is one of the most powerful and mystical in many societies. The Egyptian Goddess of truth and fairness, Maat, is usually depicted carrying a feather of a vulture. If you are going through a particularly difficult period now, it is a promise that the suffering of the immediate is temporary and necessary for a higher purpose at work, even if it is not understood at the time. It reflects that no matter how difficult the life conditions, rescue is as imminent in your life as was the rescue of Prometheus by Hercules. Even if "death" seems like a negative term, it is actually positive. Through this process, we are born again. (Similar to the Phoenix, bursting into flames, then reborn again from the ash.)

The turkey vulture also aids in the seeing of energy and auras, since they can see thermal energy rising from the earth from up in the sky. If a turkey vulture has come into your life, you will probably soon start to see colors, light and energy around people and things.

Interestingly, the vulture has no "real" voice. To some this may reflect the lesson of acting versus talking, performing rather than talking about performing.

Vulture also reminds us to pay attention to how one feels physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually after eating foods. So take note of your digestive system and patterns. Vulture can help us discover which foods to avoid and which to increase.

For more great information about the language of animal spirits and totems,
check out Animal Speak by Ted Andrews




Saturday, October 3, 2009



Full Moon Release

This month's full moon falls on Sunday October 4th in Aries. Full moons are a great time to release anything that is weighing heavy on the heart & soul.
To do this, find a quiet space during the evening of the full moon. The full moon lasts for 2-3 days, so even if you don't do it on the first night of the full moon, it's ok.
It may help to set the mood by lighting a candle and/or putting on whatever music relaxes you. Write out everything on a piece of paper that is bothering you, concerning you, etc.. Or anything you would like to be free of.
Take your time thinking about this. Sometimes what I like to do is allow myself to feel the feelings, then visualize casting them into the paper, where it will be stored temporarily. It may help to visualize the emotions as an object and/or you may also focus in on this with your hands, guiding the energy into the paper. (It is best to do this ONLY if you are going to burn the paper immediately afterwards though!)

Next find a spot outdoors where it is safe to burn the paper. Make sure you have taken measures to shield yourself in a bubble of white light or colored light of your choice.
Set your fire up and before burning the paper in the fire, ask for angelic, heavenly or Divine assistance from deities/Goddesses of your choosing to help you completely let go and release what need be. (Put it in your own words) ;) Put the intention out there to purify and cleanse your energy and your heart and to be free from toxic emotions.
Toss your paper into the flame. You may find it helps to add purifying herbs also such as sage, rosemary or cedar.
Then as you are watching this paper burn, take deep breaths, feel all that 'negative stuff' dissolve from your being. Allow it to be completely transmuted.
You may also call forth St. Germaine and angels of the Violet Flame to help you with this. Visualize the flames as violet and purifying all the energy you put out there.
For more info on the violet flame, click here: http://thevioletflame.tripod.com/
Another idea is to visualize a flower of light in the flames (or any symbol you feel is best) after everything is burned away.

Once you feel you are done, and the paper is good and gone, turned to ash, thank the Divine helpers for their assistance. Allow the energy of the Moon to bathe you. Feel the moon's silvery light engulf you and let that energy fill your being as you take in more slow, deep breaths.
Sometimes I like to bring a selenite or moonstone crystal outdoors also for this, while I sit under the moon.
Sit as long as you like outside. And if you feel a little frolick or dance coming on, then go for it! (Lol)
Magickal Blessings to you and yours~

Monday, September 28, 2009

Easy Green Smoothie


Easy Green Smoothie

This is a super easy way to get your fresh greens in and for kids to eat them, too! Great energizer for the day. *Note: turnip and beet greens can be bitter, so try mixing them with others; they are also high in oxalic acid, so eat them in moderation.

*About 1 to 1 ½ cup of dark greens (kale, collard, mustard greens, dandelion, turnip or beet greens, romaine or mixed)

* 1 banana

* 1 apple, peeled & cut up

*Agave nectar or honey to taste

* Water- about 3/4 cup- and ice if desired

Wash/rinse greens and cut into smaller pieces if necessary. Add everything in a blender in order above with water (can keep adding more water as needed) and blend until smooth. Add Agave nectar to taste and blend again. Enjoy! J

Other options:

instead of water: Almond, oat or sesame milk

Fruit options: berries, mango, peaches, pineapple, cherries, kiwi, watermelon

Additional options (about 1 tsp): ground flaxseed powder, liquid vitamins, ground psyllium seed, cinnamon, fresh ginger root chopped